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Top Swing Dance Clubs In South Florida

October 15, 2015 8:00 AM

Baseball-booted students jitterbugging at the Carrere night club in Paris. (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)

It’s fun to watch, but its even more fun to participate in. Swing Dancing is no stranger to South Florida. The following five locations provide beloved swing dance experiences, humbling to some and pure enjoyment to others. Whether you are a wallflower or a “hands-on” type of person, you will definitely want to visit at least one of these locations once in your lifetime.

Wednesday nights are group dance classes at VK Dance, with three classes taking place from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. From time to time, VK Dance offers free classes on swing which include live music from a local band. First and third Fridays at VK Dance are also considered social events, where dancers can show off their skills and mingle with other swingers from around Miami and South Florida.

Every Monday night, Swing Out South Florida hosts group dance classes for beginners and intermediate students from 7:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., with a social dance event from 8:30 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. This event allows for business professionals and college students to get plenty of sleep before the next workday. After a night of fun and swing, you will want to learn new styles, including The Charleston, East Coast Swing and Lindy Hop. A great place for networking and entertainment, it’s suggested to attend at least one of these Swing Out events a month.

South Florida Swing Dance Society presents monthly First Saturday events with live professional dancers and DJs from 7:00 until 11:45 p.m. SFSDS Member receive discounts for entry, but students under 26 will gain entry for free, encouraging lifelong enthusiasm and passion for swing dance. With the goal of the society “to educated, promote and support swing dancing in South Florida,” one can guarantee a good time attending First Saturday events, whether participating or wall-flowering! The South Florida Swing Dance Society is part of the National Fast Dance Association and ASCAP, BMI and SESAC friendly, meaning great music and dancing with professionals.

A house dedicated to the traveling musician, visitors can enjoy food, wine and dance, while listening to a new live band every day of the week. Wednesday Nights at 9 p.m., The French Horn Collective frequents The Lagniappe with what they call “an energetic and progressive band that actively performs an eclectic variety of Gypsy Jazz, Swing, World and Original French Music.” Swing dancers really enjoy this band and come together for a night of rhythm and swing, meeting up with fellow dancers and dancing the night away.

With over 22 years of professional swing dancing experience, John Harris specializes in the teaching of various genres of swing dancing for the last 12 years. What was once held only on the first Friday of every month, Sultry Swing now presents Select Friday Ballroom Socials, bringing together the dance community and students for a night of live music, swing, ballroom, Latin, salsa, hustle and country dancing. Open to the public, single dancers are welcome to connect within the studio for lessons and in mingling at live events, which includes dancers all ages. The studio at Sultry Swing also offers two free beginner dance classes, weekly from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays to build confidence in dancing abilities and ensure you are not dancing with two left feet during the next social event!

Jessica N. Abraham-Hogan is the owner of Shorty Produkshins in Orlando, Florida, and specializes in Social Branding and Public Relations for both the Professional Services Industry and Entertainment Business. Over the last 13 years, she has worked with many publications and has created branded content for multiple organizations, Globally.